No fewer
than two people died in a bloody clash between suspected political hoodlums at
an All Progressives’ Congress (APC) campaign rally in Igboora area of Oyo
State.
The News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred immediately after
the rally held at the old motor park in Igboora on Saturday evening.
NAN
reports that the campaign train, led by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, had commenced
with a road show from Lanlate through Igboora, Idere, Ayete, Tapa and Igangan
before the rallies at Igboora, Eruwa and Omi-Adio.
It was a
peaceful rally which saw the governor and the party’s governorship candidate,
Adebayo Adelabu, acknowledging cheers from supporters who had thronged the
streets to show solidarity for the party.
Trouble,
however, started immediately after the rally in Igboora as suspected political
hoodlums engaged in a bloody clash which left one dead.
NAN
reports that another innocent resident, identified to be a younger brother to
an APC leader in the community, was hit by a stray bullet and eventually died.
Eyewitnesses
told NAN that some suspected hoodlums had accosted the APC governorship
candidate to demand money but were blocked by another group of hoodlums.
This,
witnesses said, resulted in heated arguments which later led to the free for
all.
The
incident had since resulted in counter allegations and reactions from political
parties and residents.
While the
APC accused opposition parties of being behind the mayhem, the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) asked APC to look inwards for the perpetrators.
“Guns were
freely displayed by thugs alleged to have been arranged and sponsored by the
PDP and some other parties to carry out the dastardly act.
“The mayhem
eventually cost two lives. One of which is a younger brother to the leader of
our party, Alhaji Olayide Abas. We hereby charge security agencies to
investigate and unravel the killers of the deceased.
“It is
important to note that the PDP has continually incited the people to cause
trouble, having realised that the game is over. The PDP is among the parties
that masterminded the mayhem,” APC Communication team said in a statement.
Some opposition party members, who
spoke to NAN, described the incident as very pathetic, saying the APC should
investigate themselves on the mayhem.
They said
that several other opposition parties in the state had visited the community to
campaign without violence or bloodshed.
Also, some
residents of the community frowned at the sorrowful incident, describing it as
a return of thuggery and brigandage to the state.
They told
NAN that the people of the community were not desperate people and have always
lived peacefully with each other, irrespective of political affiliations.
The
spokesman for Oyo State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, did not respond to
NAN calls and text messages at the time of filing this report.
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